"OUR" PETITION
petition online
Continuous Health Assessments for Adopted Children:
Ensuring Family Stability and Child Well-being.
Purpose:
This petition calls for the implementation of continuous mental and physical health assessments for adopted children. These assessments are crucial to ensuring the well-being of adopted children and the long-term stability of adoptive families.
Why It Matters:
Adoption is a transformative experience that often brings unique challenges. Regular assessments can help identify and address emotional and physical issues early on, fostering healthier family relationships and reducing the risk of adoption breakdowns.
Current Challenges
The Problem:
- Adopted children may face distinct emotional and physical challenges.
- Adoptive families often lack sufficient support to manage these challenges.
- Failed adoptions can be deeply traumatic for both children and families.
The Gaps:
- There is a lack of regular mental and physical health assessments after adoption.
- Adoptive families struggle to access necessary resources and support.
- Long waiting times for professional help exacerbate these challenges.
Our Goal
Implement Regular Assessments:
- Introduce mandatory mental and physical health assessments for adopted children at regular intervals (e.g., every six months to yearly).
Provide Comprehensive Support:
- Offer timely resources and support to adoptive families, eliminating delays in funding and long waiting lists.
Reduce Adoption Failures:
- Early intervention can prevent issues from escalating, significantly lowering the risk of adoption failures.
Proposed Plan
Assessment Schedule:
- Initial comprehensive assessment upon adoption finalisation and another within the first year.
- Follow-up assessments every six months for the first three years.
- Annual assessments until the child reaches adulthood.
Qualified Professionals:
- Ensure assessments are conducted by licensed mental health professionals and paediatricians.
Support Services:
- Establish a trusted support network including social services, counselling, therapy, and educational resources for adoptive families.
Funding and Resources:
- Allocate immediate funding to provide support for families, reducing the likelihood of failed adoptions.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Develop a system to monitor the effectiveness of the program, with input from families, to make necessary adjustments.
Benefits
For Adopted Children:
- Early detection and treatment of mental and physical health issues.
- Better integration into adoptive families and communities.
For Adoptive Families:
- Access to essential resources and support.
- Strengthened family dynamics and reduced stress.
For Society:
- Decrease in failed adoptions and related social costs.
- Healthier, well-adjusted individuals who contribute positively to society.
call to action
Target Audience:
- Legislators, child welfare agencies, adoption agencies, mental health professionals, and the general public.
How to Support:
- Sign this petition to support continuous health assessments for adopted children.
- Share the petition within your networks to amplify our message.
- Advocate for policy changes at local and national levels to ensure the success and stability of adoptive families.
Together, we can create a system that prioritises the health and happiness of adopted children and their families, ensuring successful and lasting adoptions.